Reel Life (1916-1917)

The Weekly — Reel Life — See America First — -Tours Around the World “ Mutual Weekly ” Full of News Excerpts {tom a letter of a sol¬ dier at the front CHIEF amongst the interesting events pictured in Mutual Weekly No. 104 are excerpts from a letter received from a soldier at the front. These excerpts, which are following, explain themselves: “There are no restrictions placed upon the use of the enormous stores ■of ammunition.” “The big shells are loaded on little carts and delivered to the gunners at the front.” “An attack started at 10 o’clock this morning. Observation balloons were sent up to locate the enemy’s posi¬ tion; the terrific shell fire being di¬ rected by telephone.” “The Germans could no longer stand the terrible bombardment and came running toward our trench with their hands up calling ‘Kamarad’ ‘Kamarad.’ ” “Notwithstanding unfavorable weather conditions, our aviators took a brilliant part in the fighting” — — “bringing down two enemy planes.” “Late this afternoon a batallion passed us on their return after cap¬ turing the village of Rancourt. These brave little ‘poilus’ were singing the Marseillaise.” Other interesting events shown in the latest Mutual Weekly are J. C. Hanson instructs boys of Portland, Me., to whittle toys from wood; the Atlantic squadron mobilizes as the southern commercial congress meets at Norfolk, Va.; President Wilson greets sailors at Washington, D. C.; new city of South Los Angeles, Cali fornia, christens the largest mail box in the world. It is _ 32 feet high; skating on chemical ice in Boston. Mass.; an exhibition of designs for Edith Cavell’s monument at Paris, France; Irish rangers given farewell at Montreal, Canada; building the largest wooden ship in the world at Oakland, California; U. S. Destroyer “Shaw” launched at Mare Island, California; Olive May Wilson, the Santa Claus girl of Philadelphia, sends greetings to over 25,000 chil¬ dren; strong man gives unique ex¬ hibition at San Antonio, Texas, and soldiers and jackies in sham battle at San Diego, California. THE Educational Committee of the Omaha, Neb., Women’s Club, composed of Mrs. W. S. Knight, chairman, Mrs. Edward Johnson and Mrs. George D. Barr, saw “Charity?” at a private showing arranged for them by L. A. Getzler, manager of the Omaha branch of the Mutual, on Wednesday morning, December 20. After the showing these prominent Nebraskan women expressed their appreciation of the picture in the following letter: “We the undersigned members of the Educational Committee of the Omaha Women’s^ Club of Omaha, having this morning attended a pri¬ vate exhibition of the picture film ‘Charity?’ hereby state our apprecia¬ tion and our belief that this film should be a means of education and uplift for the welfare of children. “The picture faithfully portrays the benefits to be derived from a homelike atmosphere in public in¬ stitutions. Very sincerely yours, Mrs. W. S. Knight, Mrs. Edward Johnson and Mrs. George B. Barr.” * * * Richard bennett’s starring vehicle, “The Valley of De¬ cision,” has been booked for a three-day run at the Knickerbocker theat'er in Columbus, Ohio. It will be shown February 4, 5 and 6. California's “City of Roses Beautiful city of Pasadena, Cal., in “See America First” CHANGES in the release dates of certain Gaumont single-reels caused the postponement of the scenic pictures of Pasadena. Cal., un¬ til “See America First” No. 69, re¬ leased January 3. This beautiful residence city which might almost be called a suburb of Los Angeles, were it not for its distinct individuality, has long been known as the “City of Roses.” Pasadena contains some of the most beautiful winter homes in the United States. These have been caught for the screen by the Gaumont camera¬ man. At a time when the northern half of the United States^ is covered with ice and snow, the pictures will come as a welcome change. Included in the series are views of the won¬ derful Busch gardens. Upon the same reel is an unusually humorous contribution from the ani¬ mating pen of Harry Palmer, the Gaumont cartoonist. This Gaumont Kartoon Komic is called “Miss Cat¬ nip Goes to the Movies.” It is an innocent picturization of Mr. Palm¬ er’s happiest vein of certain foibles of “movie” spectators. These con¬ tributions of a humorous nature are extremely popular with motion picture theater patrons, many declaring that they find them more enjoyable than so many of the ambitious photodramas. Rio De Janiero and Luchon Many scenes of beauty in new “Tours Around World” RIO DE JANEIRO, the capital of Brazil, and the town of Luchon in the French Pyrenees are the two places of interest covered by Gaumont in “Tours Around the World,” No. 9, released January 2. In the South American metropolis there are many things of interest to us, but none is more beautiful than the celebrated Municipal Theater, which forms one of the striking pic¬ tures of the series. There is an ex¬ cellent panorama of the city, as well as of the Bay of Rio de Janeiro, one of the best harbors in the world. Palm-tree avenue and the Mangrove canal, and the statue of Dom Pedro I are other interesting views. The visitor to Luchon via the Gau¬ mont pictures will see charming views of the French Pyrenees, the valley of the Lys, Lake Oc, and the wonders of the trip up the Luchon mountain railway. * * ■* 4 4f“T“>HE VAMPIRES” lias been jj upon the screen long enough for the Mutual Film Cor¬ poration to report to the Gaumont Company that there is no doubt but what the photo-novel will repeat in America its remarkable box-office records achieved in Europe. This was to be expected, the Gaumont Com¬ pany announces, after the cordial re¬ ception given the episodes already shown reviewers. * * * MEMBERS of the Censorship Board and prominent citizens of Columbus, Oh;o, were so impressed by “Charity?” Linda A. Griffith’s powerful expose of the illegitimate use of charitable funds practiced in some types of charitable institutions, that they requested H. Heidelberger, manager of the Mu¬ tual’s Columbus branch, to keep the picture in town for several days until they could take the matter up with the local Chamber of Commerce with a view to raising a fund to se¬ cure the picture for a public booking. The Columbus citizens who did see it, believed that it would do the public a great deal of good to see it, and are bending every energy to¬ wards that end. “Charity?” has been booked by the management of the Knickerbocker theater to run January 21, 22 and 23. The public viewing of this him, if the Chamber of Commerce ar¬ ranges to show it, will not take place till after its run at the Knicker¬ bocker. “Olive Industry' “Value of Venom' Many other interest¬ ing topics shown in “ Reel Life/' No. 35 REEL LIFE No. 35 contains many interesting bits of in¬ formation. It opens with scenes >f the “Olive Industry.” These picures portVay beautiful olive groves n the sunny state and one of the* argest olive groves in the world. Vou are shown the olives being licked, both when ripe and green. The green ones are placed in a soluion to remove the bitter state and hen put in machines and selected s to size. The bad ones are dis¬ abled and then the olives are botled and shipped. “The Value of Venom” is the secnd topic pictured in the magazine eel and this shows you many eduating views of the different ways the oison extracted from snakes may be eneficial. “A Most Unique Basket,” the third abject gives you a good idea of ow the baskets now being used exmsively are made from the animal nown as the armadillo. These little nimals are in great abundance in *exas. Here they are caught, killed nd the insides removed from them, 'hey are then hung out to dry in he sun and after the next process re shown as handy baskets. The ail having been attached to the ead to form the handle of the asket. The fourth part of “Reef Life” is evoted to “Modish Coiffures.” This ; most interesting to the ladies and hows the latest styles of hairdressing v one of New York’s most fashionble hairdressers. -t-^ HE first week of the new year sees the Gaumont photo-novel well under way. The first epi¬ sode to be released in 1917 is “The Master of Thunder,” scheduled for ihe screen January 4. It tells of he successful efforts of Satanas to elease Irma Vep from prison, but nds with the death of the chief of he Vampires in a most sensational Imanner. This is the seventh of the tnine episodes. There will also be the customary four single-reels. _ The Gaumont editors have set a high mark for 1917 by their opening offerings. These are selected with a view to the general entertainment of every spectator. The first release of the week is “Reel Life” No. 35. This marks the pass¬ ing of the old year, being released December 31. It opens with pictures of “The Olive Industry in California” and is followed by “The Value of Venom,” a picture of the method of combatting snake bite as developed in Brazil; “A Most Unique Basket,” showing the use to which the shell of the armadillo is put. and “Modish Coiffures,” another picture in the hair-dressing series. “Tours Around the World” No. 9, is released January 2. It takes spec¬ tators upon a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Ihe picturesque capital of Brazil, and for a ramble around Luchon in the French Pyrenees. “See America First,” No. 69, is released January 3. It gives an ade¬ quate showing of Pasadena, Cal., the “city of roses.” This was announced for release several weeks ago, but was withheld until sufficient space could be secured on the reel for it. Splitting the reel with this is “Miss Catnip Goes to the Movies,” a Gau¬ mont Kartoon Komic by Harry Palmer. The fourth Gaumont single-reel of the week is The Mutual Weekly. REEL LIFE — Page Seven